Presenters

FEATURED ARTICLES ABOUT PRESENTERS - PAGE 2

The last Golden Globes was merely a news conference without any celebs. This year, the awards ceremony is loading up on the star power. Glenn Close, Ricky Gervais and Jake Gyllenhaal have been added to the list of presenters at the ceremony, which will be broadcast live on Jan. 11 on NBC, the AP reports. They'll join previously announced presenters Salma Hayek, Drew Barrymore, Sacha Baron Cohen, Jennifer Lopez, Amy Poehler, Simon Baker and Seth Rogen.

George Lopez will be the host of the fourth annual Latin Grammy awards at 8 p.m. Sept. 3 on CBS. Performers include Ricky Martin, Thalia and Alexandre Pires with Kelly Clarkson. Among the presenters are Jessica Alba, Adam Rodriguez and Tyrese. ---------- Edited by Cara DiPasquale (cdipasquale@tribune.com) and Kris Karnopp (kkarnopp@tribune.com)

For years, advertising agencies have solved the problem of whom to use for television commercials this way: "When in doubt, hire a male." And that's what most advertising agencies do when booking both celebrity and anonymous "presenters," as they`re known in the trade. But now may be the time to change that. "Have no doubts, women are more effective than men as commercial spokespersons," said Paula Kay Pierce, communications director of McCollum/ Spielman & Co. Inc., a research company founded in 1968 that specializes in testing television commercials for clients.

The IRS launched a campaign Thursday aimed at clarifying tax consequences of goody bags and giveaways at award ceremonies and film fests: Such loot's taxable. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, in a related announcement, said it would eliminate the gift baskets it offers Oscar presenters such as Jennifer Aniston and Will Ferrell, starting next year. Without specifying whether any money had changed hands, the academy and the IRS said they settled any tax obligations presenters may have owed from gift baskets received through 2005.

Performing Arts Chicago, which started the current season with a six-figure operating deficit, has been given a shot in the arm with a $400,000 multiyear grant from the Lila Wallace-Reader's Digest Fund. The grant is to be applied to an audience development project involving three other Midwest arts presenters and 20 Chicago organizations, including the Chicago Dance Coalition, Film Center at the School of the Art Institute, Harold Washington Library and Museum of Contemporary Art.

Rookie race car driver Danica Patrick was unabashedly glamorous despite not winning an ESPY at the show in Los Angeles. "I got my hair all curly and I'm wearing a dress," she said, one of the few non-winners or presenters who came backstage. "A lot of fortune comes my way because I'm a girl, so I embrace that." Patrick, 23, said she's surprised by Danica-mania. "It's all really flattering and it helps the sport. Did I think it would be this big? Probably not." Next stop: the Firestone Indy 200 on Saturday in Nashville.

Photo opportunity ahead: It has been announced that Elizabeth Taylor and Paul Newman will be presenters on this year's Oscar show. But what's going to add even more impact to that double coup is this: They`re to be presenting together. When you see them making a joint appearance March 30, it will mark their first public teaming since the film "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof," which Richard Brooks directed a few lifetimes ago.